Via Francigena
April 2024



Southbound
– Lucca to Rome, Italy –
Distance (KM)
Days
Km / Day
About The Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is a 2,000-kilometer medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury, England, to Rome, Italy. In many ways, it is similar to the Camino de Santiago, but it has its own unique flair, language, and culture. Pilgrims walking the Via Francigena carry a passport (or ‘credenziale’), which is used to acquire stamps documenting their journey. And once they reach the Vatican, pilgrims can also apply for a certificate (or testimonium) to celebrate walking 100+ kilometers on the route.
Due to its length, many modern pilgrims only complete a portion of the Via Francigena. The most popular section is the final 430 kilometers through Tuscany, beginning in Lucca, Italy, and ending in Rome/Vatican City. This is the route I intend to follow in April 2025. This year is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church, which is a time for reconciliation, forgiveness, and renewal.
Stay tuned as I post my daily trail journal from the Via Francigena – along with my packing list and some additional random thoughts about this wonderful springtime pilgrimage through Italy.
Trail Journal
LUCCA TO ROME
- Day 1: Pisa, Lucca, and a Funeral
- Day 2: Burger King in Italy?
- Day 3: A Randy Volvo Encounter
- Day 4: Best Gelato in the World
- Day 5: Slick AF
- Day 6: Blisters Galore
- Day 7: Swept Away in Wine Country
- Day 8: Trail Closures
- Day 9: A Free Bus Ride
- Day 10: Buona Pasqua
- Day 11: Locked Away in a Monastery
- Day 12: Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere
- Day 13: The Italian Pilgrims Arrive
- Day 14: Nutella Farms & Fairytale Forests
- Day 15: Wild Dogs and Waterfalls
- Day 16: Allergies
- Day 17: Vatican City


Other Via Franigena Posts

11 Differences Between the Camino and Via Francigena
In February, I publicly announced my plans to walk 400+ kilometers on the Via Francigena. Soon afterward, several friends began referring to this upcoming trek as my "Italian Camino." I can see their point of view. This new pilgrimage resembled my other trips on the...
Resources
- Via Frangiena Info
- Via Francigena Navigation (App and guides)
- Where to Get Your Credenziale
